The Winner of the 2003 Nicholson Award for the International Caregiver of the Year was Skaidrite Beitlere of Latvia.

Skaidrite Beitlere

Skaidrite Beitlere has provided constant care for her husband Paul over the last 20 years. Paul was diagnosed with MS in 1977, but he continued to work at home with help of Skaidrite for the next 14 years. In 1983 he became more disabled and since 1995 has used a wheelchair. Paul needs care every day. In the morning it takes 1.5 hours to give care for Paul to get him ready for the day. It takes about 1 hour to get Paul into the car if they want to go out of the home.

Skaidrite has been the main carer for her husband Paul. They both are over 60; Skaidrite is 63 and Paul is 61 years old. They have no children, so Skaidrite is the only one who cares for Paul. Due to her age it isn’t easy, Paul is 1.90 Meter tall. But she tries to take Paul with her when she goes to visit other MS patients in Riga. I can say - she cares for about 20 people with MS in Riga, who don’t have any relatives, but in the evening she has been calling and speaking to people with MS in regions. We call her “Mother of all people with MS in Latvia”, because everybody knows Skaidrite. Everyone can speak about their problems and difficulties and Skaidrite, who always finds a way to help. She also helps to get aids (wheelchairs, sticks, crutches) for other people with MS who can’t walk.

Skaidrite Beitlere is Secretary of the Latvian MS Society (LMSA) and has been working voluntarily for 7 years. LMSA was founded in 1995. In the period 1996-2002 she established 31 Self-Help Groups in Latvia (she went by her car to the regions, arranged MS Information days together with doctors, spoke to the MS patients and set up a regional group for the people with MS who live in this region). So Skaidrite knows almost every people with MS and she is very open and hearty to all. She also publishes a newspaper “HOPE” and sends it to all members of LMSA. She visits also once a year the established and well working Self-Help Groups in the regions, speak about problems and help to solve them.

In 2001 and 2002 the Welfare Ministry of Latvia organized a competition called “Good Star”, where the population of Latvia had to choose 365 people, who did good things and helped other people. In both 2002 and 2003 Skaidrite was awarded the Good Star from the Government of Latvia because very many people of Latvia called the Ministry and nominated her.